An exception in France: in this region, heirs are exempt from inheritance tax

In a France where inheritance can be a heavy burden, one region escapes the usual tax rules. For centuries, its inhabitants have benefited from an exceptional regime that arouses as much curiosity as it does debate. Where is this rare territory located where inheriting doesn’t rhyme with paying a bill? The answer is as unexpected as it is symbolic…

In France, inheritance can be very expensive.

mother handing key to daughter

When it comes to inheritance,  France is among the strictest countries . According to the OECD, it ranks third in the world for the taxation of inheritance. When a parent dies, the assets they leave to their children or heirs  are taxed according to a progressive scale based on value and family ties.

A tax allowance of  €100,000 is granted between parents and children , but beyond that, the tax rate varies from  5% to 45% , depending on the amounts involved. As a result,  a valuable property can quickly become a tax burden for families.

A notable exception: Corsica

But  in Corsica , the situation is quite different. On the Isle of Beauty, heirs benefit  from a specific exemption from inheritance tax  on real estate located on the island. This particularity dates back to  a Napoleonic decree of 1801 , which still retains  partial scope today.

In reality,  many assets are still transferred without formal registration or legal division.  These are called  jointly owned assets , shared between several members of the same family,  often without a specific notarial deed . In the absence of clear titles,  the tax authorities struggle to estimate their value.